FACING the might of Manchester United in Europe is most folk’s idea of a match made in heaven.

But Erik Sviatchenko won’t have any feelings of missing out because he is convinced he’s already in Paradise.

The Danish defender could be forgiven for having a wee rueful glance back home this week when his old club Midtjylland are taking on the Old Trafford side in the Europa League.

The glamour tie is huge in his homeland but Sviatchenko has no doubts whatsoever he is where he wants to be.

He won’t be sitting in front of the box wondering what might have been when his sights are only on being successful at Celtic.

When asked if he had any pang of regrets about the big game the centre back was clear.

Sviatchenko said: “No, I’ve not thought for any second about that game. I’m just happy for my former teammates that they will play that big game.

“It’s a huge game for Midtjylland but I’m here enjoying Paradise.

“It never really entered my head that I was turning down the chance to play in this game by joining Celtic.

“I have a career and you have to focus on yourself sometimes – even though football is a team sport it’s also individual sometimes.

Celtic's Erik Sviatchenko (centre) holds off Aberdeen's Adam Rooney

“You have to feel for developing and I had to develop even further. That’s the thing I’m doing here now.”

It would be easy to think big Erik’s telling porkies when it comes to saying he’s not fussed at missing Man Utd.

But instead there is a real sense he means it. When he described the place as Paradise he wasn’t meaning in the biblical sense. He knows his history.

Sviatchenko has launched himself in to life at Celtic Park. He has been devouring the club’s heritage and the more he reads the more he is convinced he has made the right decision.

He said: “I like to read a little bit about it so I’m teaching myself about Celtic.

“Obviously it’s a club with a massive history so it’s easy to get information.

“It’s everywhere so I’m just happy to be here.

“I did my research well before I came and some of the values Celtic has like wanting to improve everything, to optimise things, that’s also something I stand for and it’s so far a good match.

“There has been a lot to do, lots of games, so at this moment I haven’t seen much but Glasgow is a nice city and so far I’m enjoying it well.

“There will plenty of years to explore.”

It’s a championship flag Sviatchenko is searching for right now.

Skipper Scott Brown reacted to some of the flak coming the club’s way by last week insisting he didn’t have a shred of doubt the title was staying at Parkhead.

Scott Brown is backing Ronny Deila (Photo: SNS Group)

Sviatchenko loves that level of confidence and winning mentality.

He said: “We will do our best and I believe we can do it. For me it’s important to play every game and be ready for the game.

“Physically for me it’s about adapting now.

“I’m just focusing on playing my football.

“We all want to be winners so it’s very nice we have a captain who encourages winning – it’s good.”

Sviatchenko is still finding his feet. He has looked the part so far but he has landed at a time of relative turmoil for the champions.

The Dane was pitched in for a dramatic debut in the League Cup loss to Ross County, then there was defeat at Aberdeen and even a Scottish Cup win against East Kilbride didn’t calm the storm.

It’s just as well Sviatchenko did his homework because he insisted he knew exactly what he was letting himself in for.

He said: “The intensity has not surprised me that much. I knew we have to win every game but of course sometimes I’m used to back in Denmark when you are leading 1-0 its OK but there we have to do better.

Leigh Griffiths and Dedryck Boyata struck either side of half-time to set up a routine win after a tense first 40 minutes at Celtic Park.

The only frustration for big Erik was he didn’t manage to get on the scoresheet.

The defender got on the end of a couple of chances and wasn’t too far away.

The Denmark international reckons he’s due a goal at some point and he’s hoping it arrives sooner rather than later.

Sviatchenko said: “It was good to win. You always want to win. To do so 2-0 is a good start although the game was up and down. The first half was worse than the second, overall they didn’t create that many chances and we had many chances.

“But 2-0 is a good start, two games and two clean sheets and two wins is the beginning of very good things.

“I had some good chances, I’m beginning to wonder if I am owed a goal soon.

“But my first and foremost job is to defend and I will try to do that the best I can.”